Charge 5 keeps disconnecting from Bluetooth

[mcullinan]

My Charge 5 is not connecting to my iPhone. It does intermittently.

My Charge 4 had no problem.  

Anyone having this issue?

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Deleted my pairing to the Charge 5 and restarted it, then re-paired it in the app seems to have fixed the problem..  yay

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Actually I am still having this issue.  I’ve unpaired, restarted iPhone and fitbit.  Re-paired.   Restarted.  Bluetooth takes a long time and mostly never connects to the charge 5.  My charge 4 worked perfect. 

Moderator edit: merged replies + word choice 

[Topps52red]

I am having the same problems that DenkoB and Elizabeth and others are having.  Have tried suggested solutions numerous times, no luck and very frustrating.  I'd like to return my fitbit charge 5.  BUT, I received it Christmas Eve, 12/24/2021, and since my wife purchased it in September, I'm outside of the 45 day return policy.  Is there anyway I can get another charge 5 or a refund?  Thanks, Gary 

[Odyssey13]

https://myhelp.fitbit.com/s/support?language=en_US  try the chat feature, it's said to be faster @Topps52red 

[TeresaBT]

I have same problem with Fitbit not wanting to sync.  Eventually it does, but today it is giving me a grand total 9,999 steps when I know I ht 10,800 at least. So you screwed up my streak.  Also the heart rate with exercise is not very accurate.  My heart rate exceeds my max heart rate (220- age) by 20 bpm. Do you have another tracker to recommend?

[SDBJ]

I returned my Charge 5 since I could not get it to sync properly and after trying everything suggested finally gave up.

Moderator edit: removed personal information. 

[TessFromWA]

Mine loses Bluetooth connectivity several times a DAY!  

I've had this thing less than a week and I'm REALLY getting frustrated with it. 

[DFR1335]

My Charge 5 was working fine until today.  Now it won't sync, and says it is incompatible with Bluetooth.  In my iPhone Bluetooth settings, the Charge 5 now periodically connects and then disconnects...like every 1-2 seconds.  This was not the case from when I activated the device in September through yesterday.  I'm wondering if it may be a bad recent firmware or App upgrade?

[SFT007]

My Inspire HR just basically died out of nowhere a few days ago, so I picked up a Charge 5 and everything is on latest firmware etc and it is doing this constantly as-well. The iPhone Bluetooth is showing a constant connected / non-connected every couple seconds. Inspire had no such issues. 

I’m going to take it back to Best Buy and replace it for a new one and will report back if exactly the same. If so I’d assume it’s likely a software rather than hardware issue but who knows as Fitbit quality is only so so at best based on 2 Inspire HR’s an Inspire 2 and now this Charge 5 that my wife and I have cycled through in the last 1.5 years.

If the replacement has problems too I’m likely done with Fitbit and will just switch to the Apple Watch even though I don’t want a smartwatch and just want a good small tracker with long battery life…

[DFR1335]

I logged out of the App, logged back in, & rebooted my iphone. That seems to have solved the problem…steady connection for over 2 hrs.

Sent from my iPhone

[MandoWitcher22]

Just got my Charge 5 yesterday. I had no idea there were so many connectivity problems with iOS.

Setting up last night, I came across quite a few.

However, after a few failed attempts to get the firmware update to the Charge 5, when it was finally updated, the connectivity (and subsequently the setup) issues subsided.

I've always had flaky BT and synching issues with all my Fitbits and iPhone (from 5S, 7, 11). I just muscle my way through them and more often than not, it works almost all the time.

That being said, I think the latest firmware update finally addresses all the issues people have had with this tracker since the fall.

Fingers crossed that they've got the issues figured out now. Hopefully!

Anyway, get that firmware updated on your Charge 5 anyway you can. Then wait for an Apple iOS update to screw it all up again! LOL!

[Harley00]

• Yes this thing is crap I’ve had two inspires no problem contacted support they told me to remove all in connected devices my answer why never interfered with other devices for yrs

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• Yes mine stays connected for a time then disconnects 

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• And there doing nothing about this I’ve been working with support for days this is ridiculous terrible for this pricey 

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• I beg to differ cause the support agents I spoke with mentioned nothing of the sort only said they know it’s a ongoing problem 

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• It has to be a software issue cause soon as I took out of box it automatically updated

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• I just opened mine on Xmas and it did the software update I’ve had nothing but connection issues which never had with my inspire or inspire hr

[FitBilly1117]

It seems that saving battery is coming at the expense of performance and connectivity. 
syncing should not be this difficult. 

[DFR1335]

The reply that suggested that Fitbit disconnects from Bluetooth to save the battery is just incorrect, as least with respect to the complaints of it cycling every second.

The problem only started on mine today & I’m guessing a firmware update or an App update is the problem. I don’t think Fitbit is ignoring the problem. I’m hoping for a quick fix, but the holiday weekend will likely delay things.

Sent from my iPhone

[Rich_Laue]

Did you load a new Firmware. It has been months since the last firmware was offered. 

[Harley00]

When I plugged it in for first time it did it automatically

Sent from my iPhone

[Harley00]

Well it’s probably true but can’t understand why support didn’t bring that to my attention

Sent from my iPhone

[MikeMelb78]

I have had my Charge 5 for nearly 3 months. Watch Firmware and Android app are the latest.

I last synced just after 8pm last night. This morning, from 6am until now (midday) I have not been able to sync. An unhelpful green bar appears in the app which says "Fix It" which loads a useless help.fitbit.com page. The app never actually shows what the error message/number is - poor UI design and useless for reporting issues.

This is definitely an issue on Fitbit's end. I'm assuming they don't have many staff looking after their servers during this holiday period.

[Harley00]

Yes hopefully they correct it soon

Sent from my iPhone

[DFR1335]

Everything has been up-dated as available.

Sent from my iPhone

[Harley00]

I realize this but there has to be an issue with the software

Sent from my iPhone

[SFT007]

Just got a replacement Charge 5. This one is even worse. It disconnected multiple times on initial setup then finally got the software update notification. It tries to do it but because the Bluetooth constantly connects / disconnects it fails to do the update. Removed it and paired with my wife’s iPhone just to check and same thing. Both are on iOS 15.2 but every other device (including her Inspire 2) works just fine with the iPhone and stays connected…

Guess I’m returning this as well. Pretty sad state of affairs in the Fitbit world lately it seems.

Given the various issues we’ve had with our Inspires and these Charges that’s it from me, won’t be buying another Fitbit product again. Guess I’ll have to accept that I’ll just have to charge the Apple Watch daily…

UPDATE: finally updated the software. Oddly it worked better once I switched out of the app and into safari and let it run in the background. It still connects / disconnects constantly but at least will sync data here and there now. Let’s see how it holds out but not confidence inspiring regardless.